AKRON, Ohio — LeBron James is home, thrilled to be there, said he's never leaving again and is focused on bringing an NBA championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers and northeast Ohio.

"I don't plan on going nowhere. I don't have the energy to do it again," James said at his annual LeBron James Family Foundation I Promise event.

He said winning a championship with the Cavaliers "would be the greatest achievement in my life as far as on the court. That's my goal."

In his first public comments since deciding to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers, James expressed his commitment to his charitable foundation, the decision to return home, the Cavs' future, potential new teammate Kevin Love and his new coach, David Blatt.

The two key components of James' foundation — Wheels for Education and I Promise — have been designed to not only keep kids in school but give them the tools to thrive and graduate. More than 20,000 people attended the event which was also billed as a "Welcome Home LeBron Celebration."

"This is my favorite day of the year because of these kids," James said in his opening remarks. "For me, playing the game of basketball has given me so much, but more importantly it has given me a vehicle to give these kids hope and give them inspiration to make these kids' dreams come true and for them to use me as inspiration and hope or whatever they need from me. I'm happy to provide for them."

GALLERY: LeBron welcomed home by Akron

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the LeBron James Family Foundation Reunion and Rally at InfoCision Stadium. Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James walks with his wife Savannah Brinson and sons Lebron James Jr. and Bryce James during the LeBron James Family Foundation Reunion and Rally at InfoCision Stadium. Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

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Looking slimmer and acknowledging he has lost weight, James couldn't help talking about Love, who the Minnesota Timberwolves plan to trade to the Cavaliers for 2014 No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and 2013 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett.

The Cavaliers and Timberwolves can't execute the trade until Aug. 23 because rookies can't be traded for 30 days after they sign their rookie contract.

James tried to temper his excitement, saying, "I'm not getting my hopes up too high on it."

But he couldn't hide his true feelings for Love, whom he got know well during the 2012 London Olympics.

"If he comes aboard, I can tell you I'm going to be very excited to have him," James said. "He's one of those guys who — I don't care about the 26 (points) and 12 (rebounds per game), I care about the basketball IQ. His basketball IQ is very, very high.

"I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it happens. Hopefully everything is done right from a league rules standard. But it's a great piece."

Even with the addition of Love, the Cavaliers will be a team with limited playoff experience outside of James, Mike Miller, James Jones and Anderson Varejao. In his Sports Illustrated essay announcing his decision to sign with Cleveland, James said time and patience is required.

"There's not many guys on our roster that's done some great things," James said. "So I'm going to have to teach and lead and inspire those guys. … It's still going to be a process. Even in my first year in Miami we went through a process and some tough times. …

"Even with the veterans that we brought in and even if we're able to acquire Kevin Love two weeks from now, it's still going to be a process. I know that firsthand. It was a process when I was here in Cleveland to get to the Finals in '07. … It's always a process each and every year. It will be a challenge for us. In order to be successful, you've got to have some pitfalls."

James met his new coach, David Blatt, recently in New York while James was filming the Judd Apatow movie Trainwreck. When James knew Blatt would be his coach, he watched several of Blatt's games as coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv and studied his offense.

"I think he's going to be cool. I think coach is going to be great," James said. "Obviously, I'm going to spend more time with him. … I watched all his clips of him coaching Macabbi and broke them down to see how I can fit."

There's no doubt he looks forward to playing with Cleveland. He called Mike Miller one of his favorite teammates. Said Kyrie Irving can be one of the best point guards in the league. Said he loves the chip on Dion Waiters' shoulder. Loves Tristan Thompson's energy. Overjoyed to team up again with Anderson Varejao.

"I wish it was — what is it right now, Aug. 8? — I wish it was Sept. 8, and camp was starting in 20 days," James said.

James, who said he's back in the "lab" working on his game, loves being home.

"It just hit me," he said of his decision to return home. "Sometimes you just have a feeling and I realized what's going on and what's happening and it just hit me. That's how I was able to do in that letter and just speak from the heart."

GALLERY: LeBron James through the years

LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Two-time champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. David Richard, USA TODAY Sports

The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami. J Pat Carter, AP

Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports

After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals. Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. Lynne Sladky, AP

Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent. Mark Duncan, AP

It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together. J.Pat Carter, AP

Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010. Al Diaz, AP

In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat. Bob Luckey, Greenwich Time via AP

Before he left for Miami, LeBron James, celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Greg Pearson, USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career. Tony Dejak, AP

James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Sports